South Africa's Top 5 Competition Paragliding Women Their National and
World Rankings
1. Khobi-Jane Bowden (31st in the Women's World Rankings - down one place internationally) 2. Des Pansi (37th in the World - no change in Ranking) 3. Gaynor Schoeman (44th in World Ranking - up 7 places internationally and 1 place nationally) 4. Tracey King (50th, down 3 places internationally and 1 place nationally) 5. Chrissi Drunk (51st, up 3 places internationally)
These rankings are important to our South African lady pilots as they will
determine which female is best qualified to represent South Africa at the 2011
Paragliding World Championships in Piedrahita, Spain. At present the official website has information mostly about the 2010 Pre-Worlds in July, an important competition in the run up to the big event in 2011 and one I hope to attend. The Paragliding World Championships is held every two years and can be
likened to the Olympics where the nations best male and female pilots gather to compete.
South Africa has a small band of women
pilots striving to be the best they can be. This year, three of us in particular, Des, Khobi and I are competing
internationally, honing our skills and improving our world rankings with a view to
being THE flygirl who represents the feminine aspect of South African paragliding in 2011.
Des has been particularly encouraging, actively marketing what we hope will be the first
ever South African Ladies Team to the first ever Women's Paragliding Open in
Ager, Spain this year. Des Pansi is sponsored by Hippo , and is the only fully sponsored
South African female pilot. Being sponsored herself is not enough for our pint sized SA Ladies Long Distance Champion. Des is selflessly devoting time, energy and expertise into helping other South African women to realise their full potential. Please contact Des Pansi directly at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
should you wish to become involved.
Where do you find a woman who will promote other women to be the best they can be in our sport? In a little town called De Aar in the Northern Cape of South Africa.
